UK government urged to focus on waste to energy systems

More waste to energy plants are needed in the UK, the head of Viridor has stated.

According to Colin Drummond, chief executive of the rubbish collection firm, Britain is aiming to have six per cent of its energy generated by waste in the next five years.

However, waste to energy currently accounts for just 1.5 per cent of energy currently being produced in the UK, he stated.

As a result, he believes the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition needs to be more ambitious in order to meet or exceed its targets.

Speaking to the Times, Mr Drummond said waste to energy technology has a number of advantages over other systems.

For example, he said while the energy produced by wind farms can be variable, waste to energy technology can generate electricity "as and when needed".

This comes after Viridor was shortlisted in three categories in this year's National Recycling Awards, including the Recycling and Waste Management Business of the Year section.